Chapter 7: A Chance Meeting

The first week would pass in a blur, but it would also take forever for Lukas to make it to the weekend. By the end of the last class on the fifth day, his body ached. They would have a break from classes, but they would have to spend a lot of time studying and working with the other students.

As the Spring light had been kind, Lukas would sit on the university bench painting the two dogs on his first. He had chosen to work on a more complex artwork, painting the university clocktower, although he had little time. With the third round, he would finish his painting. The mix of blues for the shadows, and the bright orange and yellow for the light, would bring out certain features. The surrounding area would just a purple stone, while he would paint a yellow sky for the sunset. The sunset he’d mimicked was from a few days ago, but as he finished, he gave his signature in the new language, titling the painting, Time at the University.

The two dogs would pace around the area, before stopping near him. Lukas now knew they belonged to one of the professors. In holding his hand out, he would pet them both, while they both clamored for his attention. In looking up, a shadowy figure had come up to him, studying him carefully but quietly. Lord Alik. Lukas would inch backward, his heart racing as he acknowledged the nobleman.

“What have you drawn today?” Lord Alik said.

“I drew the clocktower,” Lukas said, glancing around, before pointing to it, trying to seem nonchalant in his panic.

In showing his painting to the man, Lord Alik winked, and then offered him another twenty coins. “It’s beautiful, Sir.”

Lukas nodded, taking the coins in exchange for the painting, before standing up. “I must go now, I apologize. Good day.”

He wasn’t supposed to talk to Lord Alik, but the increase in price, as well as the compliments, had left his heart racing. Had Lord Alik sought him out, with the intention of buying his paintings?`As he made it to the university library, he slowly began to realize the fact that he should have been studying anyway. But if Lord Alik had sought him out, when he had been told not to talk to him, and then there was a strict rule to not talk to outsiders, that would create an even bigger problem,

He had to keep studying, and he had to keep his wits about him. He wasn’t about to let some nobleman ruin his academic career, right before it had started. Had Lord Alik known he wasn’t supposed to talk to outsiders? Even still, the fact that a wealthy, although aloof nobleman had complimented his art, when his boyfriend at home had criticized him for the waste of time was not lost on him.

Had he been so starved for love and affection, to the point that even the smallest compliments and kindness had altered his perception of Irvin? He didn’t like Lord Alik as he liked Irvin, and he had never officially broken the relationship off. As he sat in the library corner, he turned to his work, studying to the best of his ability. The distraction only worked partially, but it had been enough.

When he made it back home, he found his bunk mate pouring over the painting of a woman. Lukas sat down on his bed, looking for any distraction, when he blurted out. “She’s beautiful.”

His roommate smiled kindly. “I don’t think we introduced ourselves properly. My name is Adelo, and I am from the sixth realm.”

“The sixth realm,” Lukas mused. “What is it like?”

Adelo took out a small, black stone. With the flicker of his hand, he controlled a small tendril. “We control darkness. And what do you control?”

“Plants,” Lukas said. He then took a small, wilted plant from his desk. With his stone in one hand, he would use his other one to rejuvenate the plant. “I can also grow roots, and I can alter the nutritional value of each plants. While most people with inner magic don’t need a stone, they are often quite powerful still.”

“Plus, they can’t realm shift, either,” Adelo said. “I have always found such a thing odd. Like why?”

Lukas shrugged. “Can I ask a question? If you were connecting to the woman in the picture, right? How do you smuggle letters in and out of here?”

“Well, I know someone,” Adelo said. “If you want, I cannot give their information, but I can ask them to send a letter next time I see them.”

Lukas grinned. In pulling out a piece of parchment, he would write to Irvin. He didn’t know what to say, or if he should make a direct comment about the situation. He shouldn’t have done this, but if he were going to follow the rules, he had already broken his orders.

“I will pay you five copper coins to keep it quiet,” Lukas said.

Adelo grinned, revealing something wicked behind it. “I am here to provide more money for my wife and I. We are expecting our first child.”

“Congrats,” Lukas said.

His letter to Irvin would say the following:

Dear Irvin,

Apologies for the silence; I did not mean to leave you without communication. I accidentally found myself in another realm, and although it has been good, I haven’t found the means to go home yet. As of a week ago, my boss fired me from my previous position. As of right now, I am looking into other forms of payment, and I am potentially considering law school in this other realm.

With much love, and a week’s worth of missed kisses,

Lukas Laarsson

Lukas would fold his paper, before giving it to Adelo. “Thank you. It’s for my man.”

He watched his roommate for the reaction, but Adelo returned the grin. “Very nice. By the way, I am deeply struggling with not smiling so much. It is much more commonplace in my old world. Apologies if I end up turning you away with my expressiveness.”

“You’re all fine,” Lukas said. “My home culture is rather reserved, but it’s nice to be around someone who isn’t so stoic sometimes.”

“Perhaps we can be each others’ wingman when it comes to relationships while being here,” Adelo said. “And you can keep the money.”

“If you want to send a rose, I can liven it,” Lukas offered.

“For tomorrow,” Adelo said. “I will buy something for us.”

85 coins

The two roommates would then continue working with each other on their homework. After the incident, they would become close study partners. Meanwhile, Lukas would continue to be wary on campus. While he had become good friends with the university dogs, he would never remain for long, keeping a watchful eye out for Lord Alik throughout the rest of the weekend. The night before his next round of classes, he would write in his journal.

My first week at the university has been both wonderful and terrifying. I have learned so much through the immersion and guidance, but I now realize that journaling has also likely been illegal here. Furthermore, it hasn’t been lost on me that Lord Alik complimented my artwork. I should move past it, as he likely has his own personal gain, but I can’t stop thinking about it, or Lord Alik for that matter.